Tejano music star regaining consciousness, doctors say

Published 7:00 pm, Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Tejano music star Emilio Navaira, who was severely injured after his tour bus crashed, is slowly regaining consciousness, hospital officials said Thursday.

Navaira opened his eyes and moved his arms and legs Wednesday evening, according to a brief statement from Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center.

"While his condition has improved, he remains in critical condition," the hospital said.

The father of five is known to his fans simply as Emilio.

The 45-year-old singer was behind the wheel of his tour bus early Sunday morning when it slammed into a collection of freeway barrels that mark the interchange of Interstate 610 and U.S. Highway 59 in Bellaire, a southwest Houston enclave.

He was thrown through the windshield and suffered severe injuries. Doctors have performed two brain surgeries on the Grammy winning singer

On Sunday, doctors removed a blood clot that was putting pressure on his brain.

But doctors on Tuesday took him to surgery a second time after medication wasn't lowering pressure that began to build in his brain around a bruise where the blood clot had been removed.

Dr. Alex Valadka, who operated on Navaira, has said Navaira's recovery could take months.

The bus accident remains under investigation.

Police in Bellaire said Navaira was not licensed to drive the 26,000-pound tour bus. Authorities were awaiting the results of blood-alcohol tests and said it was possible he may have fallen asleep.

Raul Navaira, who was also on the bus, said his brother was accustomed to the long drives each weekend.

Several members of Emilio Navaira's band, including his brother, came away with less serious injuries. Raul had a black eye when he spoke to reporters on Wednesday, saying he had scrapes and bruises and a sprained ankle but was otherwise well.

His brother and their group have released more than a dozen albums, including "Acuerdate," which won the Grammy for best Tejano album in 2003.